Win a Stay at The Great Bustard
3rd March 2026
Win a stay, dinner and breakfast for two, as well as a treatment at rural retreat, The Great Bustard, in SPHERE’s latest competition.
The boom of the UK culinary scene is showing no signs of slowing. Just recently, Michelin gave its stamp of approval to many restaurants up and down the country – be it the coveted stars, green or otherwise, the Bib Gourmand, and of course, its annual guide.
It is that very guide that described The Great Bustard as “immaculate”. Set in a sleepy Wiltshire village, the beautifully restored 19th-century property houses ten bedrooms, a pub, dining room and wellness area. For those seeking a cosy countryside escape – fit with roaring fires or buds in bloom – it’s the perfect sojourn.
For one of our SPHERE readers, a night in the countryside could be on the cards. Whether it’s The Great Bustard’s impeccable reputation for quality food or the siren call of a stay in a Scandi-style barn that tempts you, this is an invitation to swap city clamour for open skies and a luxurious rural retreat.
The Rooms
The Great Bustard falls into the contemporary category of a “restaurant with rooms”, i.e. the food is so good, people are willing to travel from far-flung places to try it. Make no mistake, this doesn’t mean the rooms are an afterthought. Quite the contrary.
Opting for a modern feel as opposed to a traditional British hunting, shooting and fishing vibe, the rooms are light and airy. The interiors are minimalist, all neutral colour palette, cool-toned wood, orb ceiling lamp shades and large fiddle-leaf fig plants. Luxury touches certainly haven’t been scrimped on. The rooms come with a heavenly bed – a vast mattress that you sink into, weighted duvets and feathered pillows – as well as marble walk-in rain showers, kitted out with the Great Durnford Estate’s own beauty range, inspired by its kitchen garden. It’s primed for a retreat, a place stripped of outside noise, leaving nothing but pure creature comforts.
The Restaurant
While more casual meals can be fireside in the pub, the real culinary experience is to be had in the adjacent dining room. The menu, curated by Head Chef Jordan Taylor, is inspired by its countryside surroundings and the chef’s own childhood spent foraging and cooking over open campfires. Every seasonal ingredient you see listed is sourced directly from the neighbouring Great Durnford Estate. As are many of the wines, of which thousands of bottles come from The Great Durnford Manor, including own labels like the Otarda red, which translates as Great Bustard in Italian and comes from the owners' sister estate in Tuscany.
You can expect to choose from a host of modern British dishes like Durnford lamb, slow-cooked egg and soldiers, Wiltshire truffle and cep linguini or day boat fish, leeks, mussels and potatoes. For breakfast the next morning, we can highly recommend the homemade crumpets, scrambled eggs with truffle shavings.
Wellness
Between biohacking, forest bathing and cold therapy, wellness is everywhere. But at the Great Bustard, it takes a quieter undertone. The Osprey treatment room, tucked away from the hustle and bustle, is a calm and restorative space in which you can completely switch off. Treatments have been designed in-house and use the brand-new artisanal Durnford collection, created by the Great Durnford Estate team. Experienced therapists can deliver a bespoke holistic experience designed to reset your mind and your body.
The Prize
Let’s get into the details of the prize. The Great Bustard is offering a SPHERE reader and a guest an overnight stay, dinner and breakfast the next morning. One treatment will also be on offer to make your trip even more relaxing.
To enter, simply click this link and input your email address where prompted. In doing so, you are agreeing to receive communications from SPHERE Magazine (weekly newsletter) and The Great Bustard. Your information will be handled in accordance with each organisation’s respective privacy policy. Selected at random, the competition closes at midnight on 31st May 2026. The winner will be announced shortly afterwards.
Terms and Conditions
- Prize includes an overnight stay available Sunday to Friday, dinner and breakfast for two people and one treatment by our in-house Therapist
- Drinks are not included in the package
- Prize is strictly subject to availability and valid between 1st June 2026 - 1st June 2027 - excludes black out dates including the festive period and any bank holidays
- Check in from 3 pm and check out by 11 am
- The package is non-transferable and has no cash alternative
- The prize does not include travel or any additional hotel services except those described
- The winner will be chosen at random and notified via email
- Please find further T&Cs here
